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15 you must inquire carefully into the matter and investigate it thoroughly. If you find that it is true and an established fact that this abomination has been committed in your midst,(A) 16 (B)you shall put the inhabitants of that city to the sword, placing the city and all that is in it, even its livestock, under the ban. 17 Having heaped up all its spoils in the middle of its square, you shall burn the city with all its spoils as a whole burnt offering to the Lord, your God. Let it be a heap of ruins forever, never to be rebuilt.

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15 you must certainly put to the sword all who live in that town. You must destroy it completely,[a](A) both its people and its livestock.(B) 16 You are to gather all the plunder of the town into the middle of the public square and completely burn the town(C) and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the Lord your God.(D) That town is to remain a ruin(E) forever, never to be rebuilt, 17 and none of the condemned things[b] are to be found in your hands. Then the Lord will turn from his fierce anger,(F) will show you mercy,(G) and will have compassion(H) on you. He will increase your numbers,(I) as he promised(J) on oath to your ancestors—

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 13:15 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  2. Deuteronomy 13:17 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.